[http://www.eurolines.at/index_en.php Eurolines] is a relatively cheap way to reach Vienna from major European cities, however it is unlikely to be cheaper than a budget flight for longer distances, such as London. Buses usually stop at the subway station Erdberg (line U3).

+

[http://www.eurolines.at/index_en.php Eurolines] is a relatively cheap way to reach Vienna from major European cities, however it is unlikely to be cheaper than a [[Discount airlines in Europe|discount airline]] for longer distances, such as London. Buses usually stop at the subway station Erdberg (line U3).

Understand

Statue in front of the Parliament

Vienna has hosted the Habsburg court for several centuries, first as the imperial see of the Holy Roman Empire, then the capital of the Austrian Empire and later of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This has tremendously influenced the culture that exists there today. Like Munich, its residents are formal, but with small doses of courtliness, polite forms of address and formal dress attire, the residents of Vienna tend to be equally modern and old-fashioned. Waiters address their customers with honorifics; a man who bumps into someone on the street is more than likely to implore his or her pardon with a small bow; tourists are treated as if they were a long-lost member of the royal family returning home. This luxurious treatment is one of the reasons that many people enjoy visiting Vienna.

The traditional Vienna is but one of the many façades of this city. Vienna is also a dynamic, young city, famous for its (electronic) music scene with independent labels, cult-status underground record stores, a vibrant club scene, multitudes of street performers and a government that seems overly obsessed with complicated paperwork. However, people are willing to go out of their way or bend the rules a little if they feel they can do someone a favor.

The Viennese have a singular fascination with death, hence the popularity of the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) as a strolling location and of Schrammelmusik - highly sentimental music with lyrics pertaining to death. Old-fashioned Sterbevereine (funeral insurance societies) provide members with the opportunity to save up for a nice funeral throughout the course of their lives. This service does not exist solely to save their children the hassle and expense - it is considered absolutely mandatory to provide for an adequate burial. Vienna even has the Bestattungsmuseum, a museum devoted to coffins and mortuary science. The country’s morbid obsession may be correlated with their higher suicide rate when compared with the rest of Europe.

Vienna is also famous for its coffee culture. "Let's have a coffee" is a very common phrase to hear, because despite incursions by Starbucks and Italian-style espresso bars, the Kaffeehaus is still the traditional place to drink a cup of coffee, read the newspaper, meet friends or fall in love.

The City has a very convenient layout for the traveller:

The 'old town', or city center, is the first district. It is encircled by the 'Ring' road, which is also the location of many famous old buildings.
Districts 2-9 are gathered within the Gürtel ('belt') Road; there, you can find the Prater (amusement) park, the hip quarters of the second district (close to Schwedenplatz), the shopping streets of Mariahilferstraße, Hundertwasser House, the Hundertwasser Kunsthaus, and so on.

Outside the 'belt', there's the Donauturm Tower, and Schönbrunn Castle, the most visited tourist attraction and deservedly so.

Vienna Tourist Board[29] operates information and booking booths at the airport Arrival Hall, 7am-11pm and in town at Vienna 1, Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse.

Orientation

Climate

Summer in Vienna is usually warm, in June and July the weather is moderate, sunny with a light summer windy breeze. In August, there are some hot days where it reaches 34 degrees Celsius, but overall, Summer in Vienna is pleasant.

Autumn starts around September, and it gets colder as it approaches November. A main disadvantage in the Viennese climate is that it is very windy, in the summer it is an advantage, but in the Winter, it makes it feel colder.

Get in

By plane

The Vienna International Airport (IATA: VIE; ICAO: LOWW) is actually located in the suburb of "Schwechat". The airport "Wien-Schwechat" is the home base of the Flagcarrier Austrian and the budget airline Fly Niki. Most European airlines and a significant number of international airlines have direct connections to Vienna.

Nevertheless, sometimes it is cheaper to fly to a nearby city and connect by train or bus. Ryanair flies to Linz (1.5 - 2 hours by train), Graz (2.5 hours by train) and Brno (IATA: BRQ) and Sky Europe flies to Bratislava (1.5 hours by bus and 8 euros book at Ryan airlines destinations page). By March 25, 2007, SkyEurope will also serve Vienna International Airport from which the company will operate a network of 16 European routes.

There are three options by public transport to reach the city center of Vienna.

Taxi

As a point of reference, a taxi from the airport to the western part of the city (District 7) is around EUR 40 (including extras and a tip). A taxi from the Rennweg S-Bahn station (where the S-Bahn to the airport departs) to the airport costs around 25 EUR. Taxi prices are negotiable before you climb in! If your destination is north or west of the city centre a pre-booked taxi might be much cheaper, http://www.ck-airportservice.at/ offers a flat rate of 27 Euros to any destination in Vienna.

City Airport Train

The City Airport Train (CAT) takes you directly from the airport to the city centre in 16 minutes. The return ticket costs €16 or €9 one way. The CAT is used mainly by business travellers (or those lured by advertising into believing that there are no alternatives) and is useful if you are in a great hurry. The CAT is owned by the airport (not by the Austrian Federal Railways) and is heavily advertised in Austrian Airlines cabin announcements upon landing, in terminal transfer buses and in the airport building itself.

When you leave Vienna by plane, and if you use Star Alliance Flights, Air Berlin or Fly Niki, your baggage can be checked in at the city center, which leaves you baggage-free and more time in Vienna; the price is still high for saving 11 minutes.

[Note: If you are flying to the United States, due to extra security measures, you cannot check-in your luggage at the City Center.]

S-Bahn (local commuter train)

Although no longer advertised by the airport management (which prefers to deny the S-Bahn's existence and to promote its overpriced CAT instead), the normal S-Bahn (Schnellbahn) (fast regional train) S7 (or S2) is also direct, merely 10 minutes slower than the CAT and costs just a third: €6,80 return (or €3,40 one way) if bought in advance (and only €3 if you have the Wien card), stopping at Wien Mitte, Wien Nord and Wien Handelskai among others. If you already have a U-Bahn day pass, you only need to add a “Aussenzonen” (outer zone) ticket for 1,70 Euro (has to be bought in advance). Do punch the ticket before getting on the S-Bahn, as punching machines are not installed inside the train. Note that you will need to buy a 2-zone ticket (or two 1-zone tickets) to total €3,40 each way to and from the airport. To reach the S-Bahn, follow the CAT signs for all but the final 50 meters: the S-Bahn and the CAT leave from the same underground railway station, but from different platforms. For more information check out http://www.info.wien.at/article.asp?IDArticle=10263.

Once you have your 2-zone ticket, you can travel from the airport to any Viennese destination (free transfer for one hour; you don't need to buy further tickets for Viennese bus, subway or tram lines).

Bus

There are two direct lines going every 30 minutes from the airport to Vienna.
One is going to "Morzinplatz" next to "Schwedenplatz" very close to the city center, the other one to the main railway stations.
At Schwedenplatz you have two subway lines (U4 and U1) as well as busses and trams. In about 5 minutes walk you are at St. Stephan´s Cathedral, the very center of Vienna. The trip costs €6 and takes about 20 minutes.
The bus trip to Südbahnhof (Southern Rail Station) or Westbahnhof (Western Rail Station) costs €6 and takes about half an hour. Usually a bus leaves the airport or the stations every 30 minutes.
Costs : Single ride - 6 Euro, Round trip - 11 Euro. You buy the ticket from the bus driver.

There are several cheap train offers to and from Vienna, mainly to destinations in Germany and Italy, but also Strasbourg and some other destinations. These all cost €29 for a one-way seater, €39 for a couchette, or €59 for a sleeper. You have to book quite a bit in advance (to Berlin and Hamburg about two months in advance, especially in summer), but it is definitely worth the effort as it takes you right to the center of a city early in the morning (unlike taking the plane)

There is a special discounted round-trip ticket you can buy if traveling from Budapest called a "kirandulójegy" or excursion ticket in English. For €29 you can buy a round trip ticket between Budapest and Vienna good for 4 days that will also cover all your local transportation within Zone 100. Since a 3-day transport pass usually costs €12 you're basically getting a round trip ticket for €17! This is an excellent deal especially if you're planning on going back to Budapest.

NOTE: There are 2 major train stations, Westbahnhof (West Station) and Südbahnhof (South Station).
Südbahnhof does not connect directly to the metro system. The nearest metro station is outside of the station about 400m away. Look for Südtiroler Platz. Many trains from Germany arrive at the Westbahnhof. Trains to Bratislava (only an hour away) usually depart from the Südbahnhof, but occasionally from the Westbahnhof.

By car

Most Austrian highways ("Autobahn") terminate/originate in Vienna.

Unlike Germany, there is a strictly enforced speed limit of 130 km/h on highways (80 km/h on highway sections in Vienna). Within towns it is 50 km/h, and on major roads it is 100 km/h.

Also a Highway Toll Sticker (Vignette) is a must! Not having one can be really expensive. Usually they can be purchased at petrol (gas) stations.

Drivers in Austria are also required by law to carry certain safety equipment. This includes a reflective vest, first aid kit and traffic warning triangle[30]

Parking anywhere within the "Gürtel" (centre-districts 1 - 9) and in specially marked areas is restricted to 120 minutes (between 9 and 22 hours, Monday to Friday) and subject to a fee of €1,20 per hour unless you have a resident permit. Payment is made by marking the time of arrival on a ticket ("Parkschein") which can be bought at tobacco shops. Therefore, if you wish to leave your car in the central districts for the period of your stay, you cannot simply park it on the street. You must either book a hotel that offers parking or leave it at a commercial car park (Parkhaus, Parkgarage). These can be very expensive (for instance, €32 per day in the Parkgarage Freyung).

A cheaper alternative is park and ride, normally available at U Bahn stations in the city periphery, for example at U3 Erdberg station (€ 2,70 per day).

Avoid the A23 Südosttangente at rush hour. Traffic jams are almost guaranteed there.

By bus

Eurolines is a relatively cheap way to reach Vienna from major European cities, however it is unlikely to be cheaper than a discount airline for longer distances, such as London. Buses usually stop at the subway station Erdberg (line U3).

By boat

Riverboats on the Danube include connections with Bratislava and Budapest, but it's of little value - unless you just love going on (slow and relatively expensive) riverboats. There is a fast catamaran service to Bratislava [31] for 25 euros.

Get around

Vienna has a good public transport system[32], which includes commuter rail, underground, trams (trolleys), and buses. The subway system is very efficient and will take you to within a few minutes' walk of anywhere you are likely to want to visit. The tram system, however, can be a horrifying experience, especially if you do not have prior experience with the Viennese tram system, speak basic German, or if you do not posses a decent street map. Some tram stops are not very well identified so it is very easy to miss your stop multiple times.

Within Vienna itself, you can get a single trip ticket for any of these for €1.70 (€0.9 for children and dogs) or a 24-hour ticket for €5.70, a three days pass is €13.60. A one-person Wochenkarte (a week ticket covering all means of transport) stands at €14 for lines within zone 100 (=whole Vienna), but is fixed for the Monday to Sunday period. A one-month-pass is €49.50 and is valid from the first day of the month through the second day of the following month.

You can buy all kinds of tickets at machines or from counters in or near S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations and in the small shops selling tobacco and newspapers (Trafik). In trams and buses you can only buy single tickets, which are more expensive (€2.20 full fare, €1.10 for children). Stamp your ticket at the start of its first use (there are stamping machines on the buses and trams, and near the entrances to the stations). You can use one ticket to go in one direction on as many lines as you like, for as long as it takes you to get there. You have to buy another ticket if you stop and get out, or if you want to go back in the direction from which you came. Payment is by the honour system; normally you don't have to show the ticket or stamp it again when you board, but occasionally inspectors check for valid tickets. If you don't have one, it's an instant €60 fine (plus the fare you were supposed to have paid).

If you're staying for a few days and hope to do lots of sight-seeing or shopping, the Vienna Card (Wien Karte)[33] is a good deal. It costs €18.50 and is good for 72 hours of unlimited public transit within Vienna. The card also gets you discounts (typically €1 or €2 at the major museums and art galleries) to many attractions and shops. You can buy it at the airport, hotels, and underground stops. Other options for longer stays or multiple parties include weekly and monthly passes, and the 8 person-day card (i.e. good for 1 person for 8 days, 2 people for 4 days, or 4 people for 2 days).

The 8 person-day card (8-Tage-Karte) for €27.20 gives 8 non-consecutive days of unlimited travel on U-Bahn and trams until 1:00AM (just after midnight). There are 8 blank lines on the Karte (ticket). Fold the ticket to the desired blank line starting with blank line numbered 1. The ticket can be shared by people traveling together. Punch one line per person per day. Trams have a punch machine inside. The S-Bahn and U-Bahn have a punch machine at the entrance. You can travel to the Flughafen (airport) on the S-Bahn using this ticket with an additional €1.70 Außenzonen (outer zone) ticket.

Rail trips to the outskirts of Vienna may require additional fare. For example, a trip to or from the airport on the S7 line is a two-zone ride, requiring either a €3.40 advance purchase, or a single zone (€1.70) ticket supplement to one of the timed-use Vienna tickets.

Because Vienna is one of those cities that never sleeps, a dense network of night buses is available for those who have a rather nocturnal approach to tourism. Since 2002, regular tickets may be used on these buses. Most terminate at "Kärntner Ring, Oper", which allows for easy interchange. Intervals are usually 30 minutes, with some busier lines (especially on friday and saturday night) going every 15 minutes. In weekend nights you can also use the S-Bahn between Meidling and Floridsdorf which has a 20 minute interval.

U-Bahn

There are five U-Bahn (subway) lines – U1, U2, U3, U4 und U6. For whatever reason, there is not a U5 line.

On foot

Walking can also be very pleasant. The inner Ring is quite compact, with lots of pleasant cobblestoned and paved streets, and can be crossed in about 20 minutes.

Bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes as this is the most common way of getting around.

By bicycle

Graben

Cycling is another popular option for travelling within Vienna, as there are many bicycle paths and lanes along major streets, in parks, and by the rivers. Vienna's compact size makes cycling attractive. On a bicycle you can reach most places of interest within half an hour.

If your destination is located in the outer suburbs, you may consider taking your bike on the U-Bahn or S-Bahn (except in rush hour!). A company called PedalPower offers guided bicycle tours, or bicycle rental deliveries to your hotel (or you can pick them up at the Prater for a discount).

CityBike[34]: The city also offers free or low-cost short-term "CityBike" rentals at various fixed locations near the central city.You need a Creditcard to rent a bike or get a Touristcard for €2 a day. You can sign up to the CityBike service at any CityBike station or more conveniently online. The first hour is free, the second one costs €1, registration costs €1 but counts as credit for the first payment you have to make. If you interrupt your trip for longer than 15 minutes the following rental will be counted as a new first hour.

By car

Fiaker coachmen waiting for customers

Avoid driving a car within the central ring if possible. While cars are allowed on many of the streets there, the streets are narrow and mostly one-way, and can be confusing for a visitor, and parking is extremely limited (and restricted during the day). Due to the comprehensiveness of the transit system, you most likely will not need a car within Vienna, except for excursions elsewhere.

Furthermore, it might be a good idea to leave your car at home during rush hours. Vienna's streets can become a little clogged in the mornings and early evenings and the drivers are not really known for being especially polite and friendly.

Pedestrians have the right of way in crossing all roads at a crosswalk where there is no pedestrian signal present. If there is such a pedestrian crossing on an otherwise straight section of the road, there will be a warning sign - you are required to yield to any pedestrian on this crossing! Austrians accustomed to experienced local drivers will step out with little thought and force you to stop, so slow down here and be careful! When driving in a neighborhood this "right of way to pedestrians" is an understood rule at every intersection, although pedestrians will be more careful before they step out. Again, be on the lookout for this - if you see a pedestrian waiting to cross, you should stop at the intersection for him/her.

See

Museums

Belvedere, Wien

The Belvedere, Prinz Eugen-Straße 27 (Take tram D, stop Belvedere), ☎+43/ (0)1/ 79 557 0 ([email protected]), [1]. Open daily from 10AM until 6PM. Intended as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Belvedere was located outside the city walls. Its two palace segments, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, later became the permanent home of the Austrian Gallery. The Oberes Belvedere (Upper) contains recent Austrian and international art from the past two centuries. Viennese art from the early twentieth century is well-represented in the permanent collection "Vienna around 1900 and the Art of the Classical Modern."

Hofburg Palace

The New Palace (Neue Hofburg). The New Palace is the newest and largest section of the Imperial Palace. It contains the Ethnological Museum and three branches of the Museum of Fine Arts. The Ephesus Museum contains classical art from Asia Minor, the Collection of Historical Musical Instruments is self-explanatory, but the jewel of the New Palace is the Collection of Arms. This collection, second largest in the world, houses an immense and exhaustive representation of weaponry from past centuries.

Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury). Located in the Neue Hofburg, the Schatzkammer (also known as the Secular and Ecclesiastical Treasures) is the best part of the Hofburg, and an absolute must on any tour of Vienna. Second only to a tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum itself, of which the Schatzkammer is officially a part, there are 20 rooms of priceless treasures that give a fairly accurate feel for Habsburg court life over the centuries.

Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), €10. Picture Gallery daily except Monday 10 am-6 pm, Thursday 10 am- 9 pm, U2: Babenbergerstrasse, U3: Volkstheater, tram D, J, 1, 2, bus 57A: Burgring Maria-Theresien-Platz (entrance), phone 525 24 0. One of the world's great art museums, in a palace that's a work of art itself. Like the Louvre, serious art fans may wish to devote more than a day to its treasures. The mother of all Austrian museums - there is no other word to describe the Kunsthistorisches other than mind boggling. It’s at the very least a full day’s worth of sightseeing, if you intend to go through it thoroughly and attempt ponder the importance of each major work. The better approach here is to break up sections of the museum and visit them over a series of days, or if that’s not an option, pick one section and concentrate on it alone. The Picture Gallery is kept open until 9 pm on Thursdays. Beginning with another section of the museum, it’s possible to have a lunch or light dinner in the café and then continue through the Picture Gallery until closing time. The Museum has an excellent collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. The coin & medals collection is also exhaustive in its scope. The Museum cafe is a bit pricey, but good, and in a beautiful setting.

The Imperial Furniture Collection - Vienna Furniture Museum Andreasgasse 7, 1070 Wien, phone: +43-1-524 33 57-0. Opening Hours: Tue – Sun 10 am – 6 pm. The museum is wheelchair-accessible. The museum with the largest furniture collection worldwide is considered as an insider's tip and is located just off bustling Mariahilfer Strasse. So you can go shopping and to the museum. Take the orange underground line U3 (alight at Zieglergasse, take the Andreasgasse exit). The items on display include used furniture by all the Austrian emperors since Charles VI (the father of Maria Theresa), furniture by the Thonet Brothers to Jugendstil, the Viennese Modernist movement and contemporary Austrian architects and designers such as E.A. Plischke, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Luigi Blau and Franz West. Besides the permanent furniture collection the museum also hosts two to three temporary special exhibitions on furniture design and photography each year. Information on the current special exhibitions can be found at www.hofmobiliendepot.at (exhibitions). You can purchase a single ticket or a combined ticket "Sisi Ticket" which in addition to the museum allows you to visit Schönbrunn Palace, the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum and the Imperial Silver Collection in the Hofburg. Take U3, stop Zieglergasse.

MAK - Austrian Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Art Stubenring 5, 1st District, phone: +43-1-711 36-0, open: Tuesday 10 am-to midnight (MAK - NITE(c)), Wednesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm. closed on Monday. Free admission on Saturday. MAK Design Shop. Permanent Collection. Study Collection. Exhibitions of contemporary art, design, architecture. How to go there? Subway U3, Tram 1, 2, bus 1A, 74A to Stubentor, and U4 to Landstrasser Hauptstrasse, City Airport Train from the airport to Bahnhof Wien Mitte. Also part of the MAK is the Depot of Contemporary Art (Gefechtsturm Arenbergpark) 3rd district Dannebergplatz/Barmherzigengasse, how to go there: bus 74A to Hintzerstrasse or U3 to Rochusgasse opening times in 2006: Mai 7-November 26 every Sunday 11 am-4 pm. If you like modern art and are short of time, the Leopold and MUMAK in the Museums Quartier have far larger and better collections than MAK. A lovely addition to a visit to MAK is popping over the road for a coffee at the 100-year old Cafe Pruekel. Take U3 or trams 1/2, stop Stubentor.

KunstHaus Wien

KunstHausWien (Vienna House of the Arts)[35] Untere Weißgerberstrasse 13, open daily from 10 am to 7 pm (Every Monday the regular admission fee in all exhibitions is reduced 50%), Tel: +43-1-712 04 91. To get there, take the street tram O from Landstrasse and get down at Radetzkyplatz. Even an avowed hater of modern art can appreciate the KunstHausWien, Hundertwasser's (born Friedrich Stowasser in 1928) major contribution to the Viennese art world. In a time when artists often try to shock the public or merely impress other members of the rarefied gallery subculture, Hundertwasser's manifesto rings out as an utterly reasonable plea: The architecture of KunstHausWien would be a bastion against the dictatorship of the straight line, the ruler and T-square, a bridgehead against the grid system and the chaos of the absurd. Starting with the façade of the building, adapted from its prior life as a furniture factory, there is a Gaudi-in-Barcelona feel to the place. Windows peek out like eyes from curvy, rounded plaster and colorful paint. It's a Disneyland for grownups! Do not miss the Hundertwasserhaus and the shopping village situated about 300m from KunstHausWien. Take tram O/N, stop Radetzkyplatz.

Hundertwasserhaus

Hundertwasserhaus[36] This interesting apartment/office complex is located 5-10 minutes east of the Wien Mitte U-Bahn stop. You can also take tram N, stop Hetzgasse.

Museumsquartier (The Museum District)[37] (MQ) is the new cultural district of Vienna since 2001. Though a lot of museums and cultural institutions are situated there, it is not only a place for art. It is also an urban living space and people go there to spend some time, sitting in one of the cafés or perhaps playing boccia. The Leopold Museum and the MUMOK are situated there. If you are interested in visiting a couple of these museums, combination tickets available at the MQ entrance will be cheaper than buying them individually at museum entrances. Note that MUMOK and Leopold has a strict policy of not allowing big bags inside the museum. Even your cameras (unless they can be tucked inside a small carry bag) will have to be deposited outside. MUMOK has a self service locker, which you might want to use when visiting Leopold since Leopold charge €1 per person for the "cloak room" service. Within MQ you can use the free wireless LAN provided by Quintessenz.

Pathologisch-anatomisches Bundesmuseum Wien (Pathological and Anatomical State Museum)[38] Wednesday 3pm-6pm, Thursday 8am-11am. On top of restricted hours, the Narrenturm can be hard to find; the web site has a handy map. Housed in a squat tower which once was an insane asylum (the "Narrenturm" ("Fool's Tower"), this museum contains some of the dustier corners of the annals of medicine. You'll find preserved hydrocephalic infants, wax castings of tertiary syphilis, antique medical devices and even a laryngeal tuberculous ulcer. The gift shop sells postcards depicting the best of these. Of similar character is the Josephinum [39]; only in German), take trams 37-38, 40-42

Technical Museum[40] This newly renovated museum near the Schoenbrunn Palace exhibits machines, transportations, electronic equipment and the like from their first design up to their current form. It also depicts the development of Vienna as a city, on all its technical aspects (recycling, power, sewage). The museum is huge (22,000 m2) and requires at least two hours to go through. Take trams 10, 52, 58, stop Penzinger Strasse.

Natural History Museum[41] This museum was erected as a mirror to its twin museum, The Museum of Fine Arts. It exhibits various minerals (eg. a collection of meteorites), fossils, stuffed animals and skeleton reconstructions (among others, dinosaurs' skeletons). It also includes an anthropological section, where you can see the beautiful Venus of Willendorf (which is 25,000 years old!).

Haus der Musik (The Music House)[42] This relatively new museum is a special museum, in that it attributes great value to interactive learning experience. It covers the history of the Vienne Philharmonic Orchestra, the history of Vienna as a centre of music making (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert and others are documented). In addition there are the more experimental sections of futuristic composition (The Brain Opera) and sound experiences. Highly recommended! Look for the happy hour. Take U1, U2, U4, trams 1,2, 62,65, J and D, stop Karlsplatz/Opernring.

Albertina[43] Once a palace, it is now the most popular exhibition space in Vienna, mainly for traditional modern art. The building itself is an experience as well. It is also home to a valuable drawing collection including many works of the German Renaissance painter, Duehrer.

Liechtenstein Museum[45] A private collection of the Prince of Liechtenstein, it is exhibited in his once Viennese Residence. The richly decorated picture gallery mainly exhibits Baroque paintings, with a nice portion of Rubens. You can get there either with tram line D, stop Seegasse or about 10 minutes by foot from U2 subway stop Schottentor.

Gemaeldegalerie (Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts)[46] A gallery owned by the Academy of Fine Arts, to which Hitler applied before he decided to change to politics. It offers some painting of Rubens and Bosch. Most interesting are the Renaissance and medievil exponents.

Vienna Museum[47] A museum documenting Vienna's history. It is split into several branches with its main branch at Karlsplatz.

Otto Wagner used to be the most prominent Viennese architect at the turn of the 20th Century. Two museums are dedicated to his work. At the Wagner Villa[48] you can see his private lodging in a very eccentric design. The villa is also beautifully located in the woods. In the rooms some paintings of Fuchs are exhibited, a painter who bought the house from the Wagner family. His painting were surprisingly influenced by the style of the villa... (highly recommended!). You can get there with tram number 49 (last stop). Another museum is the Otto Wagner Museum[49] at the post office of his original design. At this museum you can see the more serious aspect of his artistic enterprise, that of public life. At the museum you can see some of the original furniture as well as his plans. Near the Schwedenplatz U1 stop (trams 1,2, 21, N).

Museum of Military History[50] A huge museum near the southern railway station featuring weapons and military maps from different periods. You can also see the carriage in which the last Austrian prince was shot in Sarajevo, the incident which triggered the First World War and the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Near the Southern Railway (Suedbahnhof), trams 18, D, O.

Jewish Museum[51] A museum documenting Vienna's rich Jewish life with Zweig, Freud, Herzl, Mahler and Schoenberg among the most renowned of them. Attached to the museum are a medieval underground synagogue at the Judenplatz and the Stadttempel, the only historical synagogue in Vienna to have survived WWII.

If you are looking for exhibitions of modern art apart from the MUMOK and MAK there are several other places you could visit: MOYA[52], The Artists' House[53], the Secession (see under attractions), The House of the Arts (see Hundertwasser above), Atelier Augarten (a branch of the Belveder), Kunsthalle (Exhibition Hall) - there are two of them, both branches of the Museum District (MQ) and the Generali Foundation[54]. Near Vienna there is the Essl Collection in Klosterneuburg (see below).

Film Museum[55] Also used as a cinemateque for showing special films. An extraordinary related museum is a private museum dedicated to the cult film "The Third Man" shot in Vienna [56]. By the way, this films often plays at the Burgkino at the centre [57]

Mozart House (Mozarthaus Vienna), Domgasse 5 (Take the U1 or U3 to Stephansplatz. The Mozarthaus is located east of the cathedral), ☎+43/ (0)1/ 512 17 91 ([email protected], fax: +43/ (0)1/ 512 17 91-91), [3]. Open daily from 10AM until 7PM. The Viennese residence of Austria's most famous composer. A branch of the Vienna Museum.

Small Museums: There are plenty of small museums that follow specialist interests and are operated privately, by the districts or societies. They range from a museum for abortion to the world's only museum on heating systems.

Castles and Palaces

Gloriette at Schönbrunn, Wien

Schloss Schönbrunn[58] Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996, it is not far from the city centre and easy to get to by public transport: Underground: U4 (green line), alight at Schönbrunn; tram: 10, 58, alight at Schönbrunn; bus: 10A, alight at Schönbrunn. The former summer palace of the Habsburg family, Schönbrunn is the ultimate palace experience in Vienna. Its gardens and zoo (the oldest in the world, built for Maria Theresa’s husband in 1752) alone are worth a lengthy visit, not to mention the palace, which has seen its fair share of excitement over the years, including a meeting between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khruschchev at the height of the Cold War. The Palace Park offers a lot of attractions, such as the Privy Garden, a Maze and Labyrinth and the Gloriette with Panorama Terrace. There are two possible tours available without a guide (though guides are available), one including 22 rooms (the Imperial Tour) and one including 40 (the Grand Tour). The price of admission includes an audio guide. The shorter tour of Schönbrunn Palace takes you into the west wing of the palace including the apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) as well as the imposing state rooms in the central wing. With the Grand Tour you can visit in addition to those rooms included on the Imperial Tour the 18th-century rooms from the time of Maria Theresa. No photos, video taping or backpacks allowed inside. The palace is wheelchair-accessible and is open all year round:

- 1 April to 30 June: 8.30 am – 5 pm

- 1 July to 31 August: 8.30 am – 6 pm

- 1 September to 31 October: 8.30 am – 5 pm

- 1 November to 31 March: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm

Take U4, trams 10, 58, stop Schoenbrunn.

Hofburg Palace

Hofburg Palace, (To get there, take the underground: the nearest underground station is U3 Herrengasse; tram: Lines 1, 2, D, J, alight at Burgring; bus: Lines 2A or 3A, alight at Hofburg), [4]. This immense palace complex grew into a large, unwieldy series of buildings over the years, and was the imperial residence of the Habsburg emperors until 1918. What began as a medieval castle (whose chapel is the only original element of that building to survive) was expanded, redecorated and redone as the Habsburgs’ power increased correspondingly. The Palace Stables and Amalia’s Wing were added in the sixteenth century, the Imperial Chancery Wing, Court Library and Spanish Riding School in the eighteenth. In the last century St Michael’s Wing was tacked on, and then around 1900 the New Palace was completed. The contents of each separate building contain so many treasures that the time spent moving from one to another is like opening box after box of fabulous jewels – it's difficult to know when to stop, and tempting to rush through them all at once. The Imperial Palace itself now houses the offices of the Austrian President, a convention center, the Spanish Riding School with its Lipizzaner stallions, and several museums which are open to the public, such as the "Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum and Imperial Silver Collection" (Kaiserappartements, Sisi Museum, Silberkammer) where you can visit 22 state rooms (open daily from 9 am to 5 pm; July and August: 9 am to 5.30 pm. The museums are wheelchair-accessible). These are the residential and state apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph I. and Empress Elisabeth (popularly known as Sisi) and show 19th-century imperial life. The Imperial Silver Collection displays unique items of the glittering world of imperial dining. You can purchase a single ticket for all three museums or purchase the "Sisi Ticket", which entitles you to a visit to Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg with Audio Guide (Imp. Apartments, Sisi Museum, Imp. Silver Collection) and Imperial Furniture Museum • Vienna Furniture Museum).

Religious buildings

Karlskirche (St.Charles Cathedral)

Karlskirche, Kreuzherrengasse 2, ([email protected]), [5]. M-F from 9AM until 12:30PM and from 1PM until 6PM. Sunday and holidays: Noon until 5:45 PM. Largest Baroque cathedral north of the Alps, designed by the famous architect Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Frescos done by Michael Rottmayr and paintings from the Italian Baroque painters Sebastiano Ricci and Giuseppe Antonio Pellegrini, and the Austrian painter Daniel Gran.

Augustinian Friars' Church (Augustinerkirche), Josefsplatz 1. Facing the sculpture in the center of the square, the entrance is small and easy to miss – it's on the left hand wall of the square. Yet another example of the gruesome divide-and-conquer burial strategy of the Habsburg dynasty. It's said that other dynasties waged countless wars to acquire new lands, but "you, happy Austria, marry." Even in death the Habsburgs placated three different churches with the honor of caring for their remains. The best known, the Kapuzinergruft, contain their actual bodies. St Stephens holds their innards (intestines and other parts taken out during the preservation process). But the Augustinerkirche holds, in the Herzgruft (Heart Crypt), all the Habsburgs' hearts. Tours of the Herzgruft are available Monday through Friday at 11am and 3pm. The tradition began in 1627 with Emperor Ferdinand IV, who wanted to "lay his heart at the feet of the Mother of God" - literally. His heart, and those of his descendants, are preserved in silver jars which are carefully cared for by the Augustinian friars who run the church. When the renovation was underway it was found that the preservative in some of the caskets had evaporated over the years, leaving nothing but a dried-out, mummified heart.

Stephansdom

St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom), Stephansplatz (U1, U3: Stephansplatz), ☎+43/ (0)1/ 515 52-3526. High Mass: Sun and public holidays 10:15 a.m., in July and August 9:30 a.m., Guided tours of the Cathedral in English: Mon-Sat 3:45 p.m. Catacombs (only with guided tours): Mon-Sat 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 16:30 p.m., Sun, public holidays 1:30 p.m. - 16:30 p.m. North Tower (great bell): Nov-March 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., April-June, Sept, Oct 9 a.m.-6 p.m., July and August 9 a.m. - 18:30 p.m. South Tower: daily 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.. Yet another patchwork of architectural styles, but predominantly Gothic. None of that original construction remains – the oldest extant sections are the thirteenth century Giant Gate (Riesentor) and Towers of the Heathens (Heidentürme), both of which are Romanesque. The 448-ft South Tower (Südturm), often known by its Viennese diminutive Steffl (also a nickname for the entire cathedral), was finished in 1433. This is where the Pummerin, a huge bell cast from melted-down Turkish cannons, hangs. Steffl's intended twin, the North Tower (Nordturm) was never finished. Gothic architecture was out of fashion, and in 1511 building in that particular style ceased. Over fifty years later, in 1579, a Renaissance spire was added to the Nordturm to make it look less like the builders had stormed off the job. The main altar has a Baroque panel showing St. Stephen, Christianity’s first martyr. The organized tour is worth it, since some of the finest works of art in the cathedral can only be seen with a guide, such as Emperor Frederick III's red marble sepulchre and the immense Gothic carved Altar of Wiener Neustadt. The aborted North Tower has an observation deck with an amazing view of downtown Vienna. Nearby is the entrance to the catacombs, where legions of bishops and Habsburg body parts are buried (the intestines, specifically).

The Wotruba Church A beautiful cubist church on the top of a hill overlooking the woods. There is also an open air planetarium next to the church. To reach the church, take tram 60 to the Maurer Lange Gasse stop and then follow Maurer Lange Gasse up the hill until you see the green signs which point the way to the church. The walk is about ten minutes.

Kirche am Steinhof A special church constructed by the Viennese master architect, Otto Wagner. It is situated in a psychiatric hospital on the hills near the wood overlooking Vienna. Very beautiful! Take bus 48a.

The Old Synagogue An underground medieval synagogue excavations. An interesting surprise underneath the Judenplatz (The Jewish Square). Amazingly, although the synagogue was destroyed centuries ago its existence was remembered by the area's inhabitants up to the 20th Century. If you are interested in Vienna's Jewish side you can but a combined ticket with the Jewish Museum and the Stadttempel, a well preserved 19th Century synagogue, which is being used as the main city's synagogue by the current growing Viennese Jewish community.

Other attractions

Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek), Josefsplatz 1, ☎01/53410-348, [6]. Card catalogs may be an anachronism in today’s digitized world, but the Austrian National Library had the first one in existence, invented by the Habsburg court librarian. Unlike the printed library catalogs of the past, bound into book form, the card catalog could be rapidly updated and the library kept up-to-date. This well-ordered reader’s paradise has a collection that outshines many museums, thanks to its long association with the Habsburg imperial family. It gained an impressive collection when Emperor Josef II dissolved all the empire's monasteries – 300 manuscripts, 3000 printed books and 5000 diplomata. The library’s collection is approximately six million items strong and is the largest in Austria. It is a pioneer in digitalizing and placing its collection online. The oldest book in the collection is a fifteenth century Holy Gospels manuscript with scenes representing the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) containing the coats of arms of the House of Austria, Styria, Tirol and Carinthia, then ruled by Albrecht III, the book’s owner.

Chapel of the Imperial Palace (Burgkapelle). The original chapel of the Palace, built in Gothic style 1447-1449, was made over in Baroque style. On Sundays and Catholic holidays (of which the Austrians celebrate many), the Court Musicians perform here. This group is made up of members from the Vienna Boys Choir, as well as performers from the orchestra and choir of the Vienna State Opera.

Parliament. The guided tours in German or English language cost €4 (2€ for students)[59]. Open only when not in use by Parliament.

Parliament

Haus des Meeres Aquarium Zoo[60] is a marvelous zoo, with a rainforest glasshouse, tiny apes, aquariums, even with sharks, and terrariums with reptiles and venomous snakes, situated into one of the leftover second world war air raid shelter, a so called "Flakturm" (more information at www.airpower.at, www.bezirksmuseum.at and www.turbo.at). The building carried formerly one of the first radar equipments and is designed to stand a direct bombhit, an earthquake and wind speeds up to an overpressure of ten bar. Now tehre is also a platform on top to allow nice views over the roofs of Vienna. Take U3, stop Neubaugasse.

Otto Wagner stop

Karlsplatz Stadtbahn Pavilion. This city tram stop, designed by Otto Wagner, is located near the Secession Building and Naschmarkt. It is a good example of functional turn of the century architecture – ornate, yet useful. Wagner was one of the most influoential architects in Vienna and his style was widely copied.

Opera House

Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper)[61] - probably the most-beloved symbol of Viennese arts, and one of the first buildings to be rebuilt in the postwar era, as a show of pride, the Opera has had a fascinating history. It was built 1861-1869 under the direction of architects were Eduard van der Nüll and August von Siccardsburg for then-emperor Franz Josef I. The first performance, 25 May 1869, was Austrian native Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. Though now as well-loved as any member of the family, the architecture of the Opera was barely tolerated by the picky Viennese when it opened. Van der Nüll did not take these criticisms of his work lightly – he committed suicide. A few weeks later, von Siccardsburg died of a heart attack. Doubly cursed, the Opera building succumbed to bombs less than 100 years later, during WWII. After ten years of Allied control after the end of the war, many cultural institutions reopened to celebrate the birth of the new Austrian state. This time the Opera opened with an adopted son of Vienna's work: Beethoven's Fidelio. The lush curtains, the elegance of even the nosebleed seats (so steeply pitched and close to the ceiling a nosebleed becomes a distinct possibility) contribute to the overall atmosphere of the Opera. Post-performance, have some torte at the nearby Sacher Hotel (see entry).

Paternoster elevator at the University of Vienna. If you happen to go to the university mensa (cafeteria) on the top floor, make a point to find this particular elevator! It's almost as hair-raising as an amusement park ride, and a true rarity (most other paternoster elevators have long since been replaced). Paternoster (Latin for “Our Father," or what's likely to issue from passengers' mouths -- although in reality named because one can go around and around like on a rosary) elevators consist of several elevator cars which have two open doors on each floor. The cars travel up on left side and down on the right. Even though it’s forbidden, the daring have been known to ride it up and over the top (no, they won't return upside down). There're no buttons to push – just jump in and out at the appropriate floor. Note that you won't find this in the main university building on Ringstrasse. You are instead looking for the Neues Institutsgebaeude behind the main university, Universitaetsstrasse 7. There is a second Paternoster elevator in Vienna in the building of the Industriellenvereinigung, the powerful lobby of austrian economical and industrial forces, at Schwarzenbergplatz. But this one isn't publically accessible. Take U2, trams 1,2,37-38,40-44,D, stop Schottentor.

Prater (Park) including the Giant Ferris Wheel, phone 729 54 30, U1, tram O, 5, 21: Praterstern, S1-S3, S7, S15: Wien Nord , May - September: 9 a.m. - midnight. An English engineering firm (Walter Basset) built the Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) 1896-97. Others of the same era, built for world exhibitions and other parks in Chicago, London, Paris etc. have long since been torn down. The Riesenrad has become a well-known symbol of Vienna, featured in many movies (Before Sunrise, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s Eurolove-drama, is the most recent) and picture postcards. It has 15 gondolas, some of which are incredibly ornate and large enough to host an extended family inside, offering a spectacular panorama of the city. The Prater Park began its life, as so many European parks did, as a carriage-riding area for the nobility. It is still a popular place to spend a weekend afternoon with family. U1 stop Praterstern.

Secession Building, Friedrichstraße 12 (U-Bahn U1, U2, U4 (Karlsplatz)), Tel. 587 53 07-0, Tu-Fr 10-18, Sat, Sun 10-16. Architect Josef Maria Olbrich built this Jugendstil (German-style Art Nouveau) building 1897-98 as a display space for artists working in the new Secession artistic movement. It is topped by a giant, frothy golden ball, lovingly called "Krauthappel" by the Viennese, but the building was definitely not loved when it first opened. Notice a reactionary Viennese pattern here? The Opera building too was hated at first, but at least it wasn't called a "temple for bullfrogs" or "a bastard begot of temple and warehouse" as the Viennese Secession building was. The entryway features the motto of the Secessionist movement: Der Zeit ihre Kunst, der Kunst ihre Freiheit (To the time, its art, to the art, its freedom). Olbrich's mentor Otto Wagner, and also Gustav Klimt, whose astounding Beethoven Frieze is partially preserved in the basement, inspired the building’s design. The ceremonial front entrance is separate from the functional glass and steel exhibit hall in back. Entrance fee included with entrance to Belvedere Palace.

Spanish Riding School - Spanische Hofreitschule[62] was first mentioned in a document dated 1572, and is the only equestrian institute in the world which follows a Renaissance model of classical schooling. Eleves, or students, begin their training immediately after completion of Austrian primary education (age 15 or 16), and are expected to be both sporty and clever. The school takes its name from a Spanish breed of horse first mentioned in Roman writings. In 1562 Emperor Maximilian II brought some of these Spanish horses to Austria to found a royal stud farm in Kladrub (Bohemia), housing them for a time in the "Stallburg" (oldest section of the Imperial Palace). The present school location was built in 1572. In 1580, Maximilian's brother, Archduke Karl, founded the stud farm in Lipizza near Trieste (now Slovenia). Interest in elegant riding had been growing for about fifty years at that point. During Renaissance times, powerful gentlemen who had already conquered the worlds of finance and politics looked to the writings of antiquity for new learning and an educated lifestyle to which they could aspire. Horsemanship which followed the ancient models described by Socrates and others became the fashion. Xenophon (430 – 354 BC) wrote "Men who understand the art of horsemanship, in truth, look magnificent." Who wouldn't want that? In the new Winter Riding School (built 1729-35), tournaments, masked balls and other entertainment was held, but this would soon draw to a close – the royal stud farms at Lipizza were threatened by Napoleon several times and twice the precious stud horses were evacuated to Hungary. No photos or video taping allowed.

The Ring. The Ringstrasse, or Ring Street, circles the very heart of Vienna. Built on the location of the original city walls, its size is a good indication of how much the city has expanded since medieval times, but more importantly it is the most posh area of downtown. Elegant individuals stroll down the street (there really is no other way to move when walking along the Ring) and play the fashion-do/fashion don’t game under their breath before pausing at one of the innumerable cafes lining the way. A traditional Jause (morning coffee break, around 10:00 a.m.) and then back to the business at hand, seeing and being seen: Vienna’s favorite pastime. A tour along the Viennese Ring by Tram

Gasometer[63] (Directly at subway station U3 Gasometer, 8 minutes away from town-center and St. Stephens Cathedral). If you are interested in the combination of new modern with old historic architecture take a trip to the gasometers, that had been revitalised from gas-tanks to new multifunctional buildings. The gasometers are four former gas tanks, built as part of the Vienna municipal gas works Gaswerk Simmering in 1896-1899. They are located in the 11th district called Simmering. They were used from 1899 to 1984 as gas storage tanks. After the changeover from town gas to natural gas they were no longer used and were shut down. In the time between 1984 and 1997 the gasometers were used as film location (James Bond: The Living Daylights) and as the location for raves known as Gazometer-Raves. They were revitalised from 1999 to 2001 by the architects Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelblau, Manfred Wehdorn, and Wilhelm Holzbauer. Each gasometer was divided into several zones for living, shopping and entertainment. The historic outside wall was conserved. Several other facilities including a music hall, cinema, student accommodation, municipal archive, etc. are located inside of the Gasometers. There are special guided tours with experts available for visitors. Take U3, stop Gasometer.

Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery), Simmeringer Hauptstrasse 234, phone 760 41. Graves of honor of Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, Schönberg and others. Nov-Feb 8 am-5 pm, March, April, Sept, Oct 7 am-6 pm, May-Aug 7 am-7 pm. Take tthe U3 to Simmering and then take tram 71 (there's even a Viennese expression "taking the #71 tram" as a euphemism for death) or 6 to get there. The tram stops are named after the cementery gate next to it, "Zentralfriedhof 1. Tor" is where the old jewish section is, "Zentralfriedhof 2. Tor" is the main gate. Mozart, Beethoven and other luminaries of the musical world (Schubert, Brahms, Strauss) are buried, or at least memorialized here. Mozart's body is in a mass grave (as required by the law at that time) in another cemetery – but his memorial is located here with the others. The graves of the composers and other "Ehregräber" (graves of honor) are located in section 32C, near the main road leading from the church. The cemetery has served as a giant park for weekend ramblings since its creation. There are immense monuments shaped like 10-feet-tall iron canopy beds (within eyeshot of the musicians memorial) and other unique shapes. Though it takes some time to get out to the Zentralfriedhof (25 to 30 Minutes total from Stephansplatz), it is worth the trip.

Rathaus

Lainzer Tiergarten Its a beautiful natural reserve at Vienna's border with the woods. This reserve used to be the Emperor's private hunting wood with the fancy "Hermesvilla" - the favorite mansion of Empress Sissi in Vienna. Nowadays, the major part of the park is closed in the winter time, but in summer you can see wild pigs, dear and many Viennese families. For the easiest park entrance take tram 49 to its last stop. Then you need to walk for about 5 minutes till you reach the Nikolaitor. However in Winter or when you want to visit the mansion you have go to first with tram 60 or 62 to Station Hermesstrasse and then change for the bus 60B (Attention: this bus goes during the week only every half an hour). Go the bus to it's final stop - just a 5 minute's ride - to reach the "Lainzertor" (actually the main gate of Lainzer Tiergarten which also features a small visitors center). The park is usually opened from 8 till around dusk (precise opening time tables are posted at each entrance) but all gates - except Lainzertor - are closed for a winter break from around Mid-November till Mid-February.

Hietzing A residential area which used to be a village once, but gained importance as the Schoenbrunn Palace was erected in its proximity. A very beautiful area for a stroll along old villas. Stop - Hietzing (U4, trams 10, 58 ann 60), then walk.

Tuerkenschanzpark A very beautiful park which commemorates the Austrian victory on the Turks near the city boundary. Nowadays, a tranquil resort in the heart of a nice villas cluster. Take tram 41 or bus 10A, get off at Tuerkenschanzpark.

The Danube Island Home to Europe's biggest Rock festival. In Summer, a very nice park with a lot of Viennese bathers. There are also floating pubs on the Danube. A nice experience! Take U1, stop Donauinsel.

Karl Marx' Court is a socialist building complex from the beginning of the 20th Century. For those of you interested in architecture. Take tram D or U4 to Heilgenstadt.

Do

Sidewalk cafe in front of the Pestsäule

Wiener Metropol[64] is a beautiful little theatre in the heart of "Hernals", mostly frequented by Viennese themselves.

The Naschmarkt right at the U4 subway station "Kettenbrueckengasse" is the biggest of Vienna's 22 market places and provides a unique blend of typical Vienna contumely and orientalic flair. Stroll through the market and be part of the amazing ambiente. If you like to cook, you will find all spices you can possibly imagine at the Naschmarkt. The side of the Secession tends to be more touristy and thus expensive, than the side of the "Kettenbrueckengasse". Remember that it is illegal to export antiquities outside of Austria, even if you legally buy them at a market. A part of the Naschmarkt are the small nice restaurants with fresh Italien, Japanese, Greek and Turkish food, and in summer they have nice open-air gardens.

Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben), [7]. Vienna Boys Choir was founded at the pleasure of the Habsburgs. 20 July 1498 Emperor Maximilian I decided to hire six singing boys, the first permanent boys choir attached to the court. He also made arrangements for their education – fringe benefits that are difficult to get from a modern employer. The choir served the monarchy until its demise at the beginning of the first World War. The last Imperial Chaplain, Monsignor Josef Schnitt reestablished the Boys Choir as the "Vienna Boys Choir" in 1924 as a private institution. To earn money, the Choir began to perform outside the Imperial Chapel. Even though they are a not-for-profit organization, the rising costs of educating the choristers from a very young age as well as providing music and all the other variables required made establishing the Verein Wiener Sängerknaben necessary

ActiLingua Academy ("Learn), [8]. Learn German - Experience Vienna! One of the leading schools for German as a foreign language located in the heart of Vienna. ActiLingua Academy offers year-round German courses for adults(16+) and summer school for teens aged 12-17 years. Further information online including free online German lessons for beginners and advanced learners, price calculator, brochure download etc. email="[email protected]"

River and Canal tours

In the summer it's just wonderful to hang out in Museumsquartier in the evenings. The big yard is filled with large fiberglass sofas you can use for free. Optionally you can buy drinks at the open air bars there. Just ask for a glass you can take away so you can use the sofas. During the day a visit to Burggarten is highly recommended if you are looking for a more alternative young crowd. Buy something to eat and drink at a supermarket and join the others on the grass.

In July and August there's an opera film festival on the Rathausplatz. Each day - weather permitting - you can watch an opera on a huge open-air screen. On another part of the Square there are plenty of food stalls (maybe a little overpriced) who offer Viennese as well as international food. On pleasant summer evenings the atmosphere can be quite relaxing.

There are also a lot of other open-air-filmfestivals in summer, e.g. at the Augarten, the Vienna Turf Krieau, the Prater and Schloss Neugebäude.

Also in the summer there is the ImPulsTanz Festival [65] for contemporary dance & performance. But if you are interested in dance workshops they also are the right choice for you.

There are many parks to visit an enjoy throughout the city. The Wiener Tiergarten (not the Lainzer Tiergarten at Schönbrunn) has several 2-10 km hiking trails, as well as a variety of wildlife. You can see the animals get fed at 2:00 pm every day. Ask any park attendant where the location is.

Football has a long and vivid history in Vienna. Until about 40 years ago, Austrian football was dominated by a large number of Viennese clubs. Since then, their strenght has faded, reflecting the overall decline of Austrian football compared to other European football.

Today only two Viennese clubs are left in the Austrian top football division: Rapid Vienna and Austria Magna.

Rapid have won the Austrian league 31 times, this is more than any other club. They are known as the people's club, having working class roots and regularly attracting fairly big crowds of around 15.000. Home fixtures are played at the Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion in the 14th district, right next to the subway station "Hütteldorf" (U4).

Season usually starts in late July and ends in May, with a break in winter from early December until late February (due to cold weather). Tickets are available at the stadium, at various tobacco shops (Trafik) around town and also on the internet at www.skrapid.at[66] (no English section available!). Ticket prices for league matches range from € 18 to € 26. Ladies, students and children will receive considerable discounts. For a schedule of fixtures in English go to www.soccerassociation.com[67], click "Austria" and "Bundesliga".

Buy

Naschmarkt with Flea Market, Linke Wienzeile (U4 stop Kettenbrückengasse). Flea market each Saturday 6am-4pm, all over the year. Need used lederhosen? How about a doner kebab at the Naschmarkt, or an Austrian war bond from the first World War? This is the place to go. It is primarily a flea market, though some stalls sell new items such as handwoven wicker baskets or food. Pick through the detritus of an imperial society - you never know what you'll find hidden under that stack of terrible fuzzy sweaters. Couture gowns, Communist medals from all the former Eastern Bloc countries, tobacco pipes, broken pocketwatches: the flea market at the Naschmarkt is worth at least a full afternoon of your time. Flea markets are the best possible blend of high and low culture, and a way to truly get to know a city. Walk all the way from the flea market end of the Naschmarkt through the food stall end to arrive at the Secession building, located on the left close to the Karlsplatz metro stop.

Mariahilfer Straße The biggest shopping avenue in vienna, featuring all kinds of stores, many flagship stores from international brands, etc. Stretches from the Museumsquartier to Westbahnhof and can be reached conventiently by subway through stations (east to west) Museumsquartier (U2), Neubaugasse (U3), Zieglergasse (U3) or Westbahnhof (U3/U6).

Kärntner Straße and Am Graben Those major shopping avenues in the Inner City bith start at St. Stephan's Cathedral and go south and west, respectively. The stores and brands are usually more luxurious than on Mariahilfer Straße. Go to Stephansplatz (U1) or Karlsplatz/Oper (U1/U2/U4).

Kohlmarkt A small street conntecting Graben and Michaelerplatz with almost exclusively high-end luxury stores.

Dorotheum[68] The main auction site in Austria. Exhibits all sorts of furniture, art, jewlery and much more. Highly recommended. There are several locations throughout the city.

Millennium City A medium-sized shopping mall near the bank of the Danube. Take the U6 or S-Bahn to Handelskai.

Shopping City Süd One of the biggest shopping malls in Europe (the biggest by number of visitors) just outside of Vienna, housing a very wide range of stores and brands (it's not a factory outlet center though, prices are the same as in Vienna). Take either the Wiener Lokalbahn (also known as Badnerbahn) to Vösendorf-SCS or lokal bus lines (you need an additional ticket for going beyond city limits). A cheap alternative is the IKEA bus going nonstop from Oper/Karlsplatz to the IKEA store at the SCS every 90 minutes.

Christmas Markets

For most Viennese Christmas Markets [40] are not so much for shopping as for drinking. From midday until the late hours of the night people gather at christmas markets to drink mulled wine and chat to strangers.

Rathaus - Vienna's largest and noisiest Christmas market. More a fairground than a Christmas market

Spittelberg - Probably the most funky Christmas market in Vienna. It is set in two attractive medieval alleys. Some of the stalls are extensions of shops and the bars of this popular going-out area.

Schoenbrunn - Not the most lively Christmas market, but set in one of Vienna's most picturesque spots, in front of Schoenbrunn castle. Specialises on food.

Freyung - Very small market in the 1st district frequented by professionals in their lunchbreak and shoppers. Few tourists.

Eat

Budget

The traditional Viennese fast food is sausage. You can buy hot sausages and hot dogs at snack bars called "Würstelstand" all over the town. The famous Wiener Würstel is also known as the Frankfurter in Vienna, but most inhabitants prefer Burenwurst and Käsekrainer (sausage filled with cheese).

A relatively new addition to the local snack culture is Döner Kebap, sandwiches of Turkish origin with roasted meat, salad and yogurt sauce. Places that sell kebap often sell take-away pizza too. Some conservatives are afraid that kebap will gain more popularity than sausages, and perhaps they are right.

Good kebaps can be bought at the Naschmarkt; the lower end of the Naschmarkt (furthest away from Karlsplatz or city centre) is cheaper than the upper end. Another good place to find snacks (especialy whilegoing out) is "Schwedenplatz".

By far the cheapest way to get a fast food meal in Austria (and probably the only meal available for under 1 euro) is buying an Austrian sandwich (bread roll + ham/cheese + gherkin) from a supermarket. Most supermarkets will prepare sandwiches to take away at the deli counter (Feinkostabteilung) for no extra charge. You only pay for the bread and the ham. There is usually a large selection of meat products, cheese and bread rolls available. You point at the combination you want and then pay at the check out till. Freshness and quality are normally better than at a sandwich stand on the street.

You can buy excellent ice cream at a number of places, maybe the most popular is the Eissalon am Schwedenplatz where you can choose from a lot of different flavours, but it's always crowded and you often have to stand in a queue for a few minutes to get your ice cream. Another, maybe less crowded, but nevertheless excellent address is Perizzolo in Tuchlauben.
Another Famous Place for Ice Cream is Tichy on the Reumannplatz (10th District), which is famous for its Eismarillenknödel, small dumplings of vanilla ice cream with an apricot core.

There is also Zanoni & Zanoni located Am Lugeck, just down Rotenturmstrasse from the Stephansdom.
You should also try Bortolotti at Mariahilfer Straße 22 and 94. (The latter not open during winter!) - ask particularily for the Campari-Orange Icecream or look for other exotic stuff.

Vego, Neubaugasse 81, ☎01/522 59 07. Open daily 11:30AM - 3PM & 6:00PM - 11PM. Indian Vegetarian Restaurant that serves set meals from as low as 5,90EUR. The food is absolutely delicious and you can also have mango lassi.

Cafe Restaurant Kent (Eat like the locals - eat Turkish!), Brunnengasse 67, A-1160 Wien. At first approach this looks like a greasy kebab joint strictly for Turks... but struggle past the first room and you will find a large garden and huge restaurant serving moderately priced food with an infinite supply of free Turkish bread! Good for veggies and meat eaters alike. Also try the turkish breakfast.Expect to pay under 10€.

Maschu Maschu 1, Rabensteig 8, 1010 Wien (close to the Schwedenplatz undergroundstation), ☎01/533 29 04, [11]. So-Mi 11.30-24.00, Do, Fr + Sa until 04.00. Good for veggies and meat eaters alike. An Israeli healthy fast food joint Maschu maschu truly does serve the best Falafel in the world. A healthy and gut busting Falafel and beer should cost around 7€ and leave you set up for the day (they also serve a wide range of other middle eastern meals).

Maschu Maschu 2, Neubaugasse 20/Ecke Lindengasse 41, 1070 Wien (close to Neubaugasse undergroundstation), ☎01/990 47 13, [12]. 09.30-24.00. Much the same as the other Maschu Maschu, Maschu Maschu 2 is a trendy hang out place in the art student area of the city, and so it has a coolness all of its own.

Mensa at the NIG, Universitätsstrasse 7, 7ht floor, 1st district, near the University of Vienna (Dr. Karl Lueger Ring 1), [13]. (NIG is the Neues Institutsgebäude - a house of the University of Vienna.) In summer you can sit outside and enjoy the sun. You have a nice view over the roofs of Vienna.

Tunnel, Florianigasse 39, A-1080 Wien, [14]. Really cheap student's place. Nice breakfast, live music every day at around 9 PM.

Cheap Supermarkets: If you have a very limited budget, the cheapest supermarkets are: Hofer (recommended); Mondo; Lidl

Chattanooga, Graben 29A, close to Stephansplatz, ☎9251185. Fast-food versions of local food. Not bad if you are on a budget and do not have much time to spare.Mains at €9..

Wiener Deewan, 1090 Wien, Liechtensteinstraße 10 (Close to Schottentor subway station), ☎533500. Young urban Pakistani restaurant, "all you can eat, pay as you wish". You can mix your own menu from a variety of curries, meat, rice, salads and sauces.

The Highlander, Sobieskiplatz 4, 1090 Wien, [15]. Offers own Beer and a nice variety of dishes (including vegetarian dishes) at a small square inside the 9th district. Might not be one of the cheapest in the cheap section but definetly worth the price.

Schnitzelwirt Schmidt, 7th district, Neubaugasse 52. Listed in nearly every Vienna guidebook and for good reason. The traditional Viennese food is excellent and served in truly prodigious portions, yet fairly cheap by Vienna standards (5€-15€ for a full meal). The Bauernschmaus ("Farmer's Feast"), a nearly incapacitingly large schnitzel plate, is highly recommended, and in combination with any of the wonderful on-tap beers may necessitate an afternoon nap.

Mid-range

WOK, Operngasse 20, 1040 Vienna, (just beside the Naschmarkt, directly opposite the Technical University Vienna) +43/1/585 21 02, daily 11.00-14.30, 17.30-23.00 [email protected], [70]. A nice and cosy restaurant offering a variety of South-East Asian cuisine. You can get Chinese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian dishes. Also, you can ask the friendly and pretty owner if she would offer you some home-made cookings not available on the standard menu.

Brezl-Gwölb, Ledererhof 9, 1010 Wien, (close to Am Hof and Judenplatz, between Färbergasse and Drahtgasse, a bit hidden) +43/1/533 88 11, email: [email protected], [71]. Daily 11.30-01.00. A very nice restaurant with a cellar dating back to the 17th century and the furniture consists of parts from three centuries. A place that deserves the label "gemütlich". They play classical music and serve some really unique dishes.

Figlmüller, Wollzeile 5, 512 61 77, [72]. Daily 11AM-10:30PM. Famous for Wienerschnitzel Claims to have the biggest schnitzel in the World. If you are not really hungry one may easily be enough for two persons (just ask for a second plate). Traditionally you would want a potato salad with that.

Kuishimbo, im Majolkahaus, U4 Kettenbrückengasse, Linke Wienzeile 40, A-1060 Wien, Mobile: 0699/1194.06.73. The smallest Japanese restaurant in town. All the dishes are home cooked. Owners claim that they pay attention to a proper balance of ingredients. Being full can also be healthy! The place is so small that there is even no bathroom inside. You have to use the one on the Nashmarkt. The Japanese soups "Udon" are excellent. Drink included you will pay around EURO 11.

Café Landtmann, Dr. Karl Lueger-Ring 4 (near the Rathaus), +43/1/24 100 - 0, [73]. Daily from 7.30am to 12pm. Old café, used to be frequented by Sigmund Freud. Delicious food and desserts. Menu of the day for around €11.

Mythos, Mariahilferstr. 111/Webgasse 45, ☎+43 1 96 90 2111. 11:00-24:00 daily. A nice family-run Greek restaurant open on Sundays and holidays, with a good variety of items to choose from.€5-20 per dish.

Supermarkets: Compared to America, for instance, most supermarkets are just medium-sized. But especially in Vienna you can find one at almost every corner. (Except for the first district where there are only a few, most prominently the large Julius Meinl on the Graben, see next section) These markets have regular prices: Billa, Zielpunkt, Spar. If you are looking for a more American-sized store you can try "Merkur", especially the one at Mariahilferstraße/Kirchengasse. Most of these regular priced stores will prepare you sandwiches of your choice solely for the cost of their ingredients.

Splurge

The original Sachertorte at Cafe Sacher.

Tenmaya[74] Krugerstrasse 3, 512 73 97, daily Kitchen open time from 11:30 to 14:30 and from 17:00 to 23:00.

Dukai in the Grand Hotel [75] Kärntnerring 9. On Saturday and Sunday they have a buffet.

Daihachi in the Hotel de France [76] Schottenring 3, 31 368, is also a Sushi bar.

Plachutta[77] Wollzeile 38 is a very nice restaurant that specializes in beef. Try the Tafelspitz, it comes in a copper pan and still is in the soup (the soup alone is worth a trip to Vienna) it was cooked. (The chef claims that they prepare more than 100 kg of beef each day). Probably 3 to 5 waiters will be at your disposal. Reservation is recommended.

Expensive Markets If you feel the urgent need to buy delicacies, you can visit Meinl am Graben, a legendary store in the first district (1010 Wien, Graben 19) It is still worth a visit even if you don't intend to buy anything, because you will find things you probably never heard of! The store holds just about every kind of wine you can think of, has a great selection of pasta’s, for the chocolate connoisseur's take your pick, cheese lovers will have a hard time choosing what to try next. Also Meinl am Graben has some of the best coffee’s around. The store has 2 stories of unexpected surprises. http://www.meinlamgraben.at/meinl.aspx

Why not go to the Danube Tower Restaurant on a sunny day and have a look over Vienna from the rotating restaurant. Take the U1 subway and get off at VIC / Kaisermühlen. Change to the bus line 20B and get off at the Danube Tower. (You have to pay for the elevator first: € 5.30 for adults)

Drink

Beer garden

Wine

New wine is usually enjoyed at a Heurigen (wine bar licensed to sell the new vintage). Austria in general, but especially the area around Vienna, produces quite a large amount of wine each year. It's not often exported, and white is more common than red. Grüner Veltliner is a common white wine served almost everywhere. Officially the new wine season begins 11 November, St Martin's Day, but as early as September some partially-fermented new wine (called Sturm which is cloudy because it has not been strained) is available around town in 2-liter green bottles (try the Naschmarkt – sometimes the vendors will have samples). Taverns can call themselves Heurigens whether the wine they serve is their own or not – for genuine in-house product, look for a Buschenschank. This is a particularly Viennese Heuriger which can only be open 300 days per year or until their supply of house-made wine runs out. Heurigen can be found e.g. in Grinzing, Sievering (19th district) and Mauer & Rodaun (23rd district) areas but also in almost every suburban area in Vienna. Even in the center there are some Stadtheurigen. While the Heurigen of Grinzing are bigger and more famous with tourists, they are often a rip-off. If any of the year’s vintage lasts until next year, it officially becomes Alte (old) wine on the next St Martin's Day.
The Heurigen in the South of Vienna or in Perchtoldsdorf are much cheaper and serve at last the same quality as the Heurigen in Grinzing. Also in the Northern suburbs you can find cheap and somewhat authentic Heurigen. Try for example the towns of Stammersdorf orHagenbrunn, for example Karl Matzka[78], hard to reach by public transport

After a long day, the perfect place to relax among Viennese are the Heurigen in the suburbs. Somewhat akin to a beer garden, except with wine, these tiny treasures are the only places authorized to serve new wine. New wine is made from the first pressing of the grape, and can appear a little cloudy. Be careful! It's stronger than you might think! This is why it's served in very small glasses, .25 liters and up. Some Heurigen serve food, either elaborate Viennese specialties or very simple bread and cheese platters. No matter which one you choose, you're guaranteed to enjoy yourself. Just hop on a convenient outbound tramline, take it to the very last stop and look for buildings with large, evergreen foliage hung over the doors. Each one is unique, but all are a good bargain. Locals invariably have a favorite: ask around.

Cafés

If you come to Vienna and don't try some coffee you've missed one of the great reasons to come here. Vienna has a reputation for having an excellent coffee culture. You should at least visit one of the countless traditional 19th century coffee houses where you can sit down, relax and have some coffee. But please, never just order coffee, for you could deeply offend the Herr Ober, the "senior waiter" of the coffee house. Vienna prides itself of its dozens of Varieties of different coffees like "Kleiner Brauner", "Melange", "Kapuziner" or "Kaffee Verkehrt". More information on Viennese Coffee Houses can be found at the homepage of the Vienna Coffee Houses

Cafe Hawelka (established in 1939)Just a 100 m from the Stephansdom, hidden in a side road, is one of the most famous "intellectual" cafes in Vienna. It's suprisingly cheap, for its location and its fame, and can get cosy -- Jospehine Hawelka (former owner, deceased 2005) was proud of the marriages she caused by placing random people together at a table. Try the "Buchteln".

Cafe Altwien A cafe between Stephansplatz and Schwedenplatz, popular with a young crowd. This mix of traditional style and hip atmosphere is what cafe's look nowadays.

Tirolerhof (established in 1900) 1010 Wien, Führichgasse 8, just behind the opera you will find this traditional café.

Café Prückel[79] (established in 1903) 1010 Wien, Stubenring 24 (Luegerplatz), This café has live piano music every Mon, Wed, Fri from 7 to 10pm.

Das Kleine Café (the small cafe) 1010 Wien, Franziskanerplatz 3, As the name says this Café is rather small but on a good location in a quiet square inside the city. It is a tip among the Viennese that the few seats are often occupied.

Das Möbel[80] 1070 Wien, Burggasse 10, Hip café in Vienna's trendy 7th district. Take a close look at the tables, chairs and lamps: Every piece of furniture is unique and for sale

Siebensternbräu (7-Stars-Brewery)[82] Siebensterngasse 19. An excellent Biergarten a few blocks East of Mariahilferstr. They serve their own brews, which are all excellent. The usual assortment of bar food, friendly staff, and outdoor seating underneath an old Linden tree in the middle of a hidden courtyard. Move indoors well before 23:00, though - a local noise ordinance requires them to shut down the patio and interior tables fill up quickly (even more so than usual).

Flex[83] Donaukanal (U2 or U4 Schottenring, Abgang Augartenbrücke), 533 75 25 [email protected]. You haven't been to Vienna if you haven't been at the Flex - particularly if you are younger than thirty. Situated next to the "Donaukanal", a part of the Danube, it's the meeting point of the off-mainstream, bohemian, artsy people or those who belive they are. In summer, at night, when it's warm outside there are always a lot of people sitting on benches outside the club. Unfortunately, since 2005 it is not allowed to drink brought beer outside. It's easy to get to talk with people. Inside the club you can enjoy bands and DJs. At the bar you can ask for free soda water. It is hard to get pingas.

Schweizerhaus[84] Prater 116, 7280152 13, March 15 - October 31 11AM-11PM. Large beer garden in the Prater, some say they have the best beer in Vienna and beside traditional austrian dishes at moderate prices. The Schweizerhaus is also well-known for its excellent "Stelze" (knuckle of pork).

Shiraz[85] Stadtbahnbogen 168, 1090 Vienna. Phone: +43.664.3355555, [email protected]. Small and pretty comfortable, rustic-style bar in the "city railway bows". You can smoke waterpipes and listen to "chill out" music. The owner himself of Shiraz, a Persian, is very involved and a "waterpiping crackerjack". Everything is worth its price and you can really feel that this bar is something special. Its a good place to relax.

Stiegl´s Ambulanz[86] Altes AKH Hof 1 Alserstraße 4, 1090 (subway station U6, Alserstraße) +43.1.40211500, [email protected] The Stieglambulanz is a good bar run by the Stiegl brewery where you can enjoy Stiegl's beers. Stiegl is one of austria's best common beer sorts. The Ambulanz is visited by many students, modern furnished and another good place to relax. If you ever get there try the "Paracelsus", which you only get in Stiegl breweries.

Kolar mentioned in the food section above offers their own beer.

Nightlife

Vienna doesn't have the reputation of being a European party city, but when night falls – the Viennese let go of their inhibitions. If you're walking around the center of town, you're bound to run into touts passing out vouchers for free drinks or waiving door fees. During the summer, restaurants stay open late into the night, so even if you're not looking for a club scene there is likely to be something for you.

Sleep

Budget

Vienna Center Apartment, Bauernmarkt, ☎+43 699 108 108 00 ([email protected], fax: +43 1 9251599), [16]. checkin: 02:00pm; checkout: 10:00am. Exclusive, fully equipped 3 room apartments for vacation or business in prime locations; located in or within a few minutes walking distance from the first district. Some 3 room apartments have roof garden or terraces and air-conditioning.depending on number of people, season and duration of stay.

Vienna City Hostel, Dampfgasse 8, ☎(+43 1) 505 88 43 ([email protected]), [20]. central location and best access to the Südbahnhof (trainstation South) which is within 3 min walk. public transfer facilities such as underground, buses and trams are easy to reach.

Hütteldorf Hacking, Schlossberggasse 8 (Take the U4 to Hütteldorf [over 30 min=15 km] and exit the station on the south side, then follow the signs to the hostel [another 15 min]). Hütteldorf Hacking is one of two HI hostels in Vienna, located in a peaceful neighborhood to the west of the cityDorm beds around €14.

Happy Hostel, Kurzgasse 2 (Only a three-minute walk from the Westbahnhof. Same distance from metro station 'Gumpendorfer Strasse.' Crossing the Wallgasse and near the Wiener Gürtel-Bundesstrasse.), ☎+43 676 6757 457 ([email protected]happyhostel.at), [21]. Starting from €17 for dorm bed.

Apartment24-Vienna,[91] provides family friendly, self-catering business and vacation rentals for short or long-term accommodation in top city location (Grinzing/Hietzing). phone:+43(1)810 62 04. rates at 65EUR/night.

Hahns Vienna Apartment, Hoher Markt 8, 3 bedrooms, 1-7 person, [92] Hahns Vienna Apartment is located in main street of Vienna.(convenient location that is centrally located, the most central Vienna, the first district) from €100 per night. e-mail: [email protected]; Mobile Phone: +43-676-9166-227

Design Apartment, Private Apartment [93] Stylish Apartment in the second district (Prater) 10 minutes walk to the city center. Apartment from €92,-.

Hotel Goldener Baer, Türkenstraße 27 [94] is a modest hotel within walking distance from the city center. Metro stations and tram stops near by. Rooms from €56.

Splurge

Business Apartments Vienna, Marchettigasse 5, ☎+43/ (0)664/ 143 84 18 ([email protected], fax: +43/ (0)1/ 59 55 766-9), [23]. The Business Apartments Vienna have been designed for demanding businesspeople who plan to stay in Vienna for some days or weeks. About €95/night.

Le Méridien Vienna, Opernring 13, ☎+43/ (0)1/ 588 90 0 ([email protected], fax: +43/ (0)1/ 588 90 9090), [25]. The hotel was opened in late 2003 and is done in a very modern, artsy "Art + Tech" design. All rooms have flat screen TV and nice massage showers. The breakfast buffet and bar are equally nice and offer an opportunity to "see and be seen".€163+ per night.

Hotel Sacher, Philharmonikerstraße 4, ☎+43/ (0)1/ 514 56 0 ([email protected], fax: +43/ (0)1/ 514 56 810), [26]. Hotel Sacher is located next to the Opera and at the end of the pedestrianized Kärtner Strasse shopping area. This hotel is best known as the place where Sachertorte (cake) was invented. This delicious dessert is composed of several thin layers of dry, slightly bitter chocolate cake with apricot jam in between, and is best served with a rich, milky cup of Viennese coffee (perhaps a Melange or Sacher Kaffee, the most popular variants). The elegant drawing room is a popular place to gather after a performance at the Opera. The food is quite pricey, but definitely worth the money. The rooms offer old style luxury with heavy carpets etc.€286+ per night.

Contact

Vienna has a large number of wireless hotspots in bars, restaurants, and cafés.

Stay safe

Vienna is one of the safest cities in the world for its size. There are no slums or districts you should avoid. In general, you can visit any part of the city at any time of the day without taking many risks -- just use your common sense. At night, though, it is wise to avoid parks, as well as the area within and around Karlsplatz station and Schwedenplatz station (other opinion: the underground stops there aswell as the areas around are also safe during the night. The drug scene at Karlsplatz is hanging out there also during the day and they do not care at all about tourist, just ignore them and they will ignore you) . The Prater (fair grounds/amusement park area) is said by some locals to be less safe at night, though more in reference to pickpockets than anything else. As in any major city, watch out for pickpockets who grab and run when boarding the U-Bahn (subway). There are few racist assaults in Vienna, but its streets and public-transport facilities are littered with racist (anti-black) graffiti. Some areas around the Prater and around the Westbahnhof are spots for illegal Prostitutions, female travellers walking around there alone might feel uncomfortable in these areas during the night.

Recently there has been some reports of fraud around Karlsplatz and Ressel Park area, also near the ring. Usual scenario as follows: someone stops you asking for direction. A couple of other guys show up claiming to be police, showing a badge (must be fake). They ask if you were getting drugs from the other guy and asks for your passport and wallet for verification. When you are busy trying to convince them that your passport is valid, one of them sneaks out some money from your wallet. Best to tell them that you want to go to the police station -- there is one at Karlsplatz U-Bahnstation. Its a minor annoyance, but its better to be careful.

Cope

Get out

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is only 60 km (50 minutes by train or car) from Vienna. In the past prices were one fifth of what they are in Vienna, but now you pay pretty much the same. From the Donaukanal you can catch the brand new (but rather expensive) ferry. [http://www.twincityliner.com/english/fahrplan.shtml Trains to and from Bratislava are going about every 30 Minutes and also during the night (every 2 hours), a round trip ticket including public transport in Bratislava (ask for a "EURegion Ticket Bratislava") costs only 14 Euros. The trains are mostly departing from Wien Ostbahnhof (Sudbahnhof).

Gumpoldskirchen is a picturesque wine growing village half an hour's train ride south of Vienna. It's a good destination for wine tasting and hill walking, especially in autumn. To get there take a S-Bahn train at Wien Südtiroler Platz (take U1 to get there) or Wien Meidling (take the U6 to get there), trains are going about every 30 Minutes.

The Carnuntum archaeological park is located 40 km from Vienna, in the direction of Bratislava. The site offers excavations of an ancient Roman city. It is worth a one-day visit. You can get there by train (S-Bahn Line 7, departing at Wien-Mitte, within walking distance to the city centre or take U3 or U4 to get there), trains are going every 60 Minutes, travelling time is 56 Minutes.

Seegrotte [101] 17 km south of Vienna is the largest underground lake in Europe.

You can hitchhike to Brno: take the tram to Brunner Straße. There is main road from Vienna to Brno, so thumbing there should be very easy. There is also enough space for sleeping.

Places around Vienna

Sammlung Essl - Contemporary Art[102] Sammlung Essl - Kunst der Gegenwart. With its 5000 artworks the Essl collection provides an excellent overview of Austrian painting since 1945. This overview is presented in the context of international art. It is a private art collection featured in a newly built museum. How to get there? Take the U4 Subway to 'Heiligenstadt' (the end-station) then an additional 10 minutes by bus or S-Bahn to Klosterneuburg-Kierling.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!